Undav's Late Double Secures Germany's Knockout Berth Against Ivory Coast

Germany has advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World CupCompetition·2026 FIFA World Cup, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ivory CoastTeam·Ivory Coast in a Group E encounter. The decisive moment arrived in the 94th minute when substitute Deniz UndavPlayer·Deniz Undav netted his second goal of the match, breaking Ivorian hearts and ensuring Germany's progression for the first time since 2014.

The match, held in Toronto, saw a tactical battle unfold, with both teams vying for control. Germany's manager, Julian NagelsmannCoach·Julian Nagelsmann, turned to his bench in the second half, introducing Deniz UndavPlayer·Deniz Undav, a move that proved instrumental. Undav needed less than eight minutes to find the equalizer, setting the stage for his dramatic late winner.

This performance further solidifies Undav's reputation as a pivotal impact player in the tournament. In Germany's Group E opener, a dominant 7-1 victory against CuraçaoTeam·Curaçao, Undav came off the bench to score once and provide two assists, a feat achieved by only one other substitute since 1966 in a single World Cup match. His three goals and two assists in the tournament so far match Roger Milla's 1990 record for most goal involvements (5) by a substitute at a single World Cup since 1966.

Julian NagelsmannCoach·Julian Nagelsmann has openly praised Undav, stating, "He is a positive, life-affirming guy who is good for us — on and off the pitch." Former Ghana international KevinPlayer·Kevin-Prince Boateng even humorously suggested Nagelsmann "should be sacked" if Undav does not start the next game, underscoring his consistent influence from the bench.

Germany now leads Group E with six points, securing their place in the next round. Ivory CoastTeam·Ivory Coast remains in second place with three points after two matches, still in contention for qualification. Germany's path to the World Cup included topping UEFA Group A with five wins and one loss in their 2025 qualifying matches, alongside recent friendly victories against FinlandTeam·Finland (4-0) and the United StatesTeam·United States (2-1).

Ivory CoastTeam·Ivory Coast entered the tournament with strong form, including a 1-0 win against EcuadorTeam·Ecuador in their World Cup opener and an unbeaten run in their CAF qualifying pool. Their recent successes also include winning the Africa Cup of NationsCompetition·Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 and friendly wins against France (2-1), Scotland (1-0), and South KoreaTeam·South Korea (4-0) earlier in 2026.

Undav's club form leading up to the World Cup was equally impressive, as he finished the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with a career-best 19 goals for VfB StuttgartTeam·VfB Stuttgart, trailing only Harry KanePlayer·Harry Kane for the league scoring title. He amassed 25 goals across all competitions, prompting Stuttgart to extend his contract through June 2029 just weeks before the tournament.